Hartford man steals trucks, rams vehicles during police chase before bogging down in blueberry field

COVERT, MI -- A 39-year-old Hartford man was arrested Friday on multiple
felony charges after stealing two trucks, intentionally crashing into multiple cars
and running from the police, according to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office.

A Hartford man led police on a chase through most of Van Buren County Friday night before becoming stuck in a blueberry field. MLive File Photo

One driver suffered minor injuries when his vehicle rolled
multiple times after being rammed by the Hartford man in a stolen Ford F-250
flatbed truck on M-40 highway.

Police said that the victim refused treatment at
the scene and reported no other injuries.

Police said contact with the man began shortly after 6 p.m.
when a white 1994 Ford F-250 flatbed farm truck was reported stolen in Porter
Township.

While Van Buren County Sheriff's deputies were taking the
complaint, it was reported by a Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol deputy that a
vehicle matching the description of a similar stolen pick-up truck had hit a
car and caused it roll on M-40. Police said this vehicle matched
the description of a white 2010 Ford F-250 flatbed truck stolen in Lawton.

At the scene of the
crash, police said they learned the driver of the stolen pick-up truck had hit
another vehicle while on M-40.

"Deputies then put out an area broadcast to police agencies
to be on the lookout for the stolen vehicle that was possibly involved in the
felonious assault," a press release from the Van Buren County Sheriff's office
said.

Police said they later received reports that a white pick-up
truck was seen near Bangor running vehicles off of M-43. The vehicle was then
spotted in Hartford a short time later and officers from the Hartford Police
Department attempted to make a traffic stop, police said.

"The suspect then sped off through the City of Hartford and
then into areas of western Van Buren County and northeastern Berrien County,"
the press release said. "The suspect during the pursuit then drove off the
roadway into a blueberry field along County Road 376 and County Road 703 in
Covert Township and became stuck in the deep mud."

The driver of the stolen vehicle was arrested at 8:35 p.m.

A Van Buren County sheriff's deputy crashed his cruiser while responding to the crash in the blueberry field, police said.

Further
investigation from Van Buren County deputies and Lawton Police found that after
the driver stole the farm truck he broke into the Amtrak service building in
Lawton and stole the keys to the second truck.

The driver of the stolen vehicle was arrested on charges of
two counts of felonious assault with a vehicle, multiple counts of fleeing and
eluding police, two counts of take and possession of a stolen vehicle, and operating
while intoxicated by drugs, breaking and entering into a government building
with other charges pending.

The suspect has been lodged at the Berrien County Jail and will be transferred to the Van Buren County
Jail where he will be lodged on numerous felony charges.